The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Does anyone know what's involved in importing a 2nd hand rifle from Eire to the UK, or have any of you done this.
I've searched but can't find anything of use.
Any advice as to cost or paperwork involved would be greatly appreciated.

Chris.

You'll probably find it easier and cheaper to bring it in personally on the strength of your own FAC, than have a third party conduct the importation.

Or, if possible, have the rifle transferred to a dealer in a Northern Ireland and then shipped to the mainland in the usual manner.

Thanks, you're probably right. I wouldn't usually bother with all the hassle, but the exchange rate is good at the moment.

By the far the easiest is going to be get it moved to the North and then shipped as a normal RFD transfer. At this point I will hold my hands up and say I honestly do not understand the laws regarding shipping from the North to the South and back as they seems to be able to make transfers in a matter of days whereas such an export/import would take me weeks.

A couple of years ago I looked into registering a jcb that had been brought in from Southern Ireland. The paperwork was a nightmare and they wanted to charge VAT based on its new price. It took away any benefit of buying it in the first place.
I might give an RFD in the North a ring to see what they have to say.

Things are never as straightforward as they should be, I've been waiting 2 weeks for an RFD transfer at the moment, with no sign of it arriving.

Ovenpaa I can't see how having it transferred to N.I. first can be of benefit or make it any easier, wouldn't that simply introduce another level of complication as the seller will still be transferring it to another country. Then you have the differences between the legislation in N.I. and the mainland to contend with including the necessary additional notifications involved.

The easiest way but maybe not the cheapest would be to pop over and buy it in Ireland (provided you can get the necessary authority to purchase in that country) and simply bring it back yourself on the ferry or airline. Once again provided that is that you you have the necessary authority to purchase in this country ( a space on your ticket).
I've done it a couple of times with France and it couldn't be easier. Just declare it at customs and inform your constabulary within 7 days when you get home just the same as you would normally do if buying in this country. As the VAT has been paid in another EU country there will be no extra to pay and private imports don't normally pay any extra duty. It's all pretty simple really.

Middlebridge wrote:A couple of years ago I looked into registering a jcb that had been brought in from Southern Ireland. The paperwork was a nightmare and they wanted to charge VAT based on its new price. It took away any benefit of buying it in the first place.
I might give an RFD in the North a ring to see what they have to say.

Things are never as straightforward as they should be, I've been waiting 2 weeks for an RFD transfer at the moment, with no sign of it arriving.

VAT on Commercial Vehicles is a complex issue including second hand ones whereas for a rifle or shotgun being sold second hand there is not normally any VAT to pay provided it was originally paid within the EU.